Chilean canoeist Mailliard claims silver in Montreal, qualifies for Lima 2027 Games

Chilean canoeist María José Mailliard has once again placed Chile on the international podium, securing a silver medal at the Pan American Championships held in Montreal, Canada. Mailliard finished second in the 5,000-meter race, a crucial achievement that not only qualifies her for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games but also earns her valuable points on the path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Her success extends beyond the 5,000 meters. At the same Pan American event, Mailliard narrowly missed a medal in the 500-meter race, finishing less than a second behind the medalists alongside teammate Paula Gómez. These results add to her recent strong showings, including a silver medal in the C500 event and a fifth-place finish in the C5000 at the preceding World Cup in Canada.

The Chilean team celebrated multiple successes at the championships. Kayaker Sebastián Alveal captured bronze medals in both the K200 and K500 events. In the junior categories, Matías Parra won gold in the K1 500, and the junior canoe pair Gaspar Díaz and Nicolás Lara also secured gold medals in their 500-meter event, showcasing a promising future for Chilean paddling sports.